Introduction
Applie d sciences directly address societal challenges by forming collaborative networks. Consequently, scientists that are involved in these collaborations need specific skills and expertise (Rotter et al., 2021). In addition, a lot of top-down structures have been introduced in recent years, such as science communication, quadruple helix approach and the concept of the responsible research and innovation. There is a visible gap between the academic training and exercising science in practice, where these overarching skills that are needed in tackling scientific hypotheses, entering new research areas, obtaining scientific funding and collaborating are self-trained. A field which has been gaining increasing importance is science communication, which, especially in top-priority societal challenges (in recent years especially impacted by (micro)plastics pollution and recently also with the COVID-19 pandemics), needs special consideration. The talk will focus on (micro)plastics pollution and the unexpected interest for communicating the progress and results of one of the projects that tries to provide a solution to microplastic pollution, GoJelly (https://gojelly.eu/). The main aim of the project is to use one nuissance (increasing jellyfish blooms and the presence of non-indigenous jellyfish species) to solve another emerging problem, microplastic solution. The potential of wild harvesting or jellyfish aquaculture were also assessed during the project, thus addressing important environmental protection and sustainability bottlenecks.
Concepts and terminology
Collaborative networks are dynamic structures that are assembled based on the funding opportunity or emergence of a specific topic (Rotter et al., 2021). They typically have a limited duration, e.g. a predetermined time goal for providing concrete results. The most common collaborative networks are organized to target specific funding calls, promising innovative solutions with a realistic market-entry potential in future. One such example, the Blue Growth Horizon 2020 call (BG-07-2017: Blue green innovation for clean coasts and seas) identified chemical pollution as well as increasing jellyfish blooms as increasing problems in the oceans, seas and coasts. To address this problem, an international transdisciplinary consortium was formed with the aim of addressing one problem (microplastic pollution) using an unlikely source for a solution (jellyfish mucus). The idea behind the proposed solution was so novel and innovative, that it was convincingly financed. But, surprisingly, the solution was convincing and innovative also for an unexpected stakeholder category: the media, which typically represent a proxy for the general public. Indeed, since the formal approval of the project, the consortium members have been featured in many national, regional and global media.
The issue of microplastic pollution has been in the recent years recognized as a top priority area by the general public, the policy makers, the media as well as the scientific world. However, while scientists are still trying to evaluate the adverse effects of microplastics pollution on the environment, food and humans, the public and policy makers are eager to finally use the potential solutions.
In this perspective, the issue of microplastic pollution is an excellent example of transdisciplinary scientific collaboration, science communication, involvement of public and NGOs, efforts for legislation change, including the close collaboration with policy makers and finally offering approaches that can be used in practice and in future commercialized by small & medium enterprises as well as the industry.
The talk will present some introduction to the terminology and what scientific communication has done to catalyse this area of research. As the project is entering its final stage, the timing is right to deliver some basic concepts, project impact, lessons learned and provide tips and tricks that will enable to better shape the future generation of innovators and provide them with know-how to become efficient science communicators.
Conclusion
The case of microplastic pollution and the GoJelly project is a great example of how the scientific community should operate. It is not self-sufficient, and industry, policy makers and the general public should all be involved to maximize the outputs. This is the concept of quadruple helix, which will also be presented.
Overall, we feel that there is a lack of »behind the scenes capacity building« presentations such as ours which we believe it will be well appreciated within the scientific and industrial community.
Rotter, A., Gaudêncio , S.P., Klun, K., Macher, J.N., Thomas, O.P., Deniz, I., et al. 2021. A new tool for faster construction of marine biotechnology collaborative networks . Front. Mar. Sci. 8:685164. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.685164.